In Love With My Rival

CHAPTER SIX: the unlucky boss

            “I can’t believe that Nate steps aside for me.” The still shocked and surprised voice of Xavier echoed in their tiny living as he plopped down on the couch and shook his head in disbelief. Was he happy? Maybe. He grabbed the throw pillow near the armrest of the couch and put it under his head.

            It was around seven in the morning and he just felt like he needs to tell his brother about what happened at the park yesterday when he took a Sunday stroll alone. Nate had been keeping his distance from him at the campus, but Xavier could not believe that Nate himself stepped aside when they almost bumped into each other at the park.

            “So?” The bored voice of Zephyr asked. It was still early in the morning and he was in need of caffeine to wake up his senses.

            “So, you must have probably done something really bad to him,” Xavier told his brother in an accusing manner.

            Zephyr who was eating some egg fried rice in their small kitchen island, stopped chewing on his food. His hand which was holding the spoon, halted midway as he turned his head to look at his brother who looked so comfortable in their living room couch. Xavier Hernandez was staring at him with such accusing eyes.

            “Seriously? It had been weeks and you are bringing it up again and why are you looking at me like that?”

            Zephyr was annoyed because he wanted to enjoy his breakfast but his younger brother just had to interrupt him. He hated– not the thing he hated the most, but he just hated getting interrupted while eating a lot.  

            “I could not help it. So, what did you do?”

            “I just f*ucking threatened him.” He sighed for the nth time.

            I need some espresso or a latte or blonde roast.

            Zephyr thought.

            “How?”

            When will he stop?

            Zephyr wondered. Xavier Hernandez was a nerd, in a good way, but he was just too talkative… just around his brother, though. Zephyr knew he was quiet and shy around other people. That was why he was most of the time, the subject of bullying because he didn’t know how to stand up for himself when he thought he could not defend himself when facing people who look bigger or taller than him.

            “I told him to stop getting at you or else he would lose everything and everyone he loves.”

            Zephyr briefly explained, hoping that Xavier would stop asking questions already.

            “I see.”

            That sounds like he finally understands.

            “Yeah,” Zephyr muttered and went on with his fried rice.

            “You’re so scary.” Xavier made a ‘tsk’ sound while shaking his head at his brother.

            “It’s surprising you just know that now.”

            “Thank you, though.”

That one grateful statement of Xavier made him stop chewing on his food again. Swallowing, he turned his head to the living room again to see his brother falling silent. Xavier was staring at the ceiling like it was the most interesting view at the moment. His arms were crossed under his head above the cushion.

“For what?” Zephyr finally asked.

He hated this kind of moment when Xavier just started getting emotional without a warning because he would get emotional along with his brother easily too. He could not help it. Xavier was all he had in this world and he promised he would do everything to be there for him. Even it meant risking his own life, he would always be there for the only family he had now. It was not just a promise to himself, but a promise to his parents.

            “For everything.”

            Everything. It’s not over yet.

He thought. Why was he thanking him for everything already? It wasn’t over. Nothing was over. He hadn’t finished anything yet. Heck, he hadn’t even started.

            “We’re brothers. I love you. Of course, I will hurt anyone who’ll hurt you.”

“I love you too. I just feel like I should thank you whenever I can because I don’t know when I will die. I would feel regretful if I never tell you that.”

            Zephyr let out a breath he did not know he was holding. He then finished the last spoon of his fried rice and hopped off the stool with the now empty plate in his hand and loaded it in the sink.

            “You’ve thanked me enough. Please don’t worry about it. It’s my obligation to protect you.”

            “I’m so lucky, you know.”

            “Why?” He asked after drinking a glass of water.

            “Because I have you.”

            “I know. Hey, you need to get ready now or you’ll be late.” He reminded his brother. He wanted to dismiss the topic or else he would start crying. He wouldn’t want to let his brother see him cry. Not because he would feel embarrassed, but because he did not want Xavier to know that he was weak inside. There was no denying that.

            “I will. I will now.”

            Xavier replied, raised both his feet up, and sat up on the couch. He stood up and almost bumped into his brother who was leaving the kitchen.

            “Are you going somewhere today?” Xavier asked.

            “I’m always out, Xavier and you know why.”

            “Okay, sorry. Just take care, though.”

            “I will.”

            He smiled at his younger brother, clutched his shoulder before walking past him and out of the room. But, not before telling him this,

            “Call me when something happens.”

            “Sure.”

            With that, he left the house and rode his dangerous motorcycle to Starbucks. He badly needed some hot drink to start his day. It did not take him long to reach the very well-known café. He walked in like a Greek God he was, and fall in line to order. There was another guy before him in line and he waited patiently as the barista took the guy’s order. He did not feel intimidated at all when the guy before him looked so formally dressed in Armani suit. He was just wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a black leather jacket over a plain white shirt. It was not like it was something to feel intimidated with, he thought. So what if he never looked formal at all. It wasn’t like he was a businessman or someone with a nice profession to brag.

            When it was finally his turn to order, he felt a presence behind him.

            “Blonde Roast. Gran–”

            His tongue seemed to forget its purpose when his nose absentmindedly sniffed the air because he just smelled something so pleasant and nice. A mix of vanilla and floral scent cut him off. It was so tempting to turn around and see who was behind him, but he had adequate self-control. It was so familiar and it was tempting him to just turn around already.

            “Grande.”

            He finished, still intoxicated by the scent. His eyes closed as he silently inhaled it. It was so addicting that he was ready to turn around and look at the person when the barista handed him his drink.

            “Thanks.”

            Zephyr muttered as he paid for his order, turned around, and walked when his shoulders brushed past against a woman. He did not know she was so close to him.

A woman.

The reality made him continued walking, ignoring the woman who almost lost her balance. There wasn’t slow motion. Everything moved so fast. He was walking like nothing even happened. He walked out of Starbucks like he didn’t almost hurt a woman. He did not care anymore if that woman smelled so damn great.

It’s not like it’s my fault. Why was she even standing so close behind me?

He was arguing with his own thoughts again. He felt guilty… a little. He thought he could’ve even just steadied her or say sorry.

She did not fall. Don’t be so dramatic. Nothing really bad happened.

Sitting on his bike, he opened the lid of his cup and started drinking the blonde roast he ordered. While doing so, he couldn’t help, but turn his head to look through the glass walls of Starbucks from where he was parked. He could see what was going in the space he just walked out of.

That was when he noticed something familiar… more like someone familiar. He could see her side view and he was not that sure if it was the same woman, but he had the vibe that it could be her. The height… she was that tall. The way she stood and dressed… very classy and elegant. That dress she was wearing was a f*****g turn-on. It looked so good on her. The same hair…

Yup, it’s her. She really smells so amazing.

The angel.  

“Mierda, Zephyr.” He swore at his own self, scoffed, and finished his drink. He did not even realize that the cup was empty. He was staring at the woman longer than he should.

“Waste of time.”

Women are distractions.

That thought reminded him.

He discarded the empty cup on the opened trash bin on the side of the road before turning the engine of his motorcycle on drove to a friend’s place. He needed to be somewhere important.

***

            There was a frustrated woman inside the elevator. Her shoulders were slumped in defeat, her happy morning mood gone in an instant. All she felt was annoyance and frustration. One guy just had to ruin her mood.

            “I hate you.” She mumbled, eyes not blinking.

            It was only her inside the elevator. If someone was riding with her at the very moment, they would think she was crazy. By crazy, it would mean literally crazy. She was staring at the elevator doors where she could see her own reflection. She seemed tired when the day hadn’t even started yet. Not only tired but also bored as if she had lost her excitement for work. She was just so gear when she woke up this morning. Her hair was a bit messy. Maybe because she had her car windows rolled down while driving, letting the wind mess with her hair.

            But, who does she hate?

            It could be Mason. Her own assistant hung up on her. Or the woman at Starbucks. Or the guy who got away without even just a ‘sorry’.

            “I fuckin’ hate you, Zeus Martins.”

            Oh. Why so much hatred?

            “You are so damn talkative. We’re not compatible. I just hate you so much.”

            Yup, she was talking to her reflection again and then just groaned all of a sudden.

            “Damn it, Mason. Why can’t you just tell him to f**k off?!”

Meanwhile, Mason Jones was waiting patiently for her boss to arrive. Zeus Martins threatened him that if his boss wouldn’t arrive in ten minutes, he would ask Ava’s father to fire him. Mason hated the guy as much as her boss did. Zeus Martins was a manipulative business mogul who thought he could do everything with just a snap of his fingers. He thought so highly of himself, a sweet talker who thought he could capture a woman’s heart with his pickup lines and jokes that were not even amusing, to begin with.

            That doesn’t make him any charming at all.

Anyway, Mason Jones was standing in front of the elevator, hoping Ava Lauren would show up soon because he was scared Zeus Martins would really tell his boss’ father to fire him. Zeus Martins and Adam O’Kelly were partners. He would never want that to happen. His family needed him, especially his grandma who was still taking her maintenance medicine.

The doors to the elevator finally opened and revealed his boss who was looking nicely-dressed while leaning against the elevator wall. Mason’s eyes squinted at the tired-looking woman who was carrying her handbag lazily and staring blankly and then suddenly said, “Damn it, Mason. Why can’t you just tell him to f**k off?!”

Mason pursed his lips and sighed as he shook his head and rubbed his temples. The first day of the week was a disaster for him. He had to face Ava Lauren like this again. Yes, this wasn’t the first time for him to deal with an Ava Lauren who had too much caffeine.

“I told you I can’t. Why don’t you do it yourself?”

At the sound of Mason’s annoyed and stressed voice, Ava looked up and saw her assistant smiling sarcastically at her.

“Good morning, Ma’am. What a nice morning, don’t you think?” Mason held his hand out to his boss, taking the bag and the car keys.

“Morning to you too, Mason. No good. Where is he?”

Ava Lauren stepped out of the elevator and looked around the lobby.

“Where’s who?”

A man’s voice joined the session, making both of them look at the intruder.